Water-valve for instantaneous water-heaters.



R. C. FRMPTON. WATER VALVE FOR 'INSTANANEOUSl/JMEE HTERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE/2L 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

msm

1N .VENTOR ifi/'ITNESSES H. c. FRAMPT'ON.

WATER VALVE FOR INSTANTANEOUS WATERHEATERS.'

APPLICATION F|LEDMJUNE25,1912.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V gm INVENTOR,

227W. .BY @@QM TTORNE Y.

inviano ill ' REYNOLDS C. FRAMPEGN. GE- ETESBURS'H, EEHNSYLVANEA.

Wanna-vanas roza insfmnrannoue nieren-Hanssen inseam.,

T0 all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Rmfisonos C. FnAMr- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of 'Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in `Water-Valves for' Instantaneous Water- Heaters, of which the following is a speciicfation. y

The invention relates to water or pressure valves for instantaneous heaters and has for its primary objects; the provision of an improved and simplied orm of graduated valve; the provision of an improved form of valve soconstructed that the piston will be automatically moved to closed position, permitting the gas valve to close when. the water'in the heater rises above a predetermined temperature; and the provisiono1 a device insuring thesafety of the apparatus against overheatingand teX losion in case the gas valve should be' accidentally stuck open.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings i. packing w slier 25.

d in position upon the piston rod Y wherein- I I Figure 1 1s a longitudinal section through the water and gas valves employed, Fig. 2.

is an end view on a reduced scale, of ,the water valve shownin Fig. 1, Fi Y. 8 is a detail plan view of the metal Clisi employed as a check valve, Figs. d and-5 are' detail plan views of certain parts of the apparatus shown in section in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through a modified foi-m of water valve, and Fig. 7 is a pla-n view of check valve employed in the structure of iig. 6.

The principald parts of the apparatus as shown may be briefly enumerated as follows: 1 is a metal arm o r support upon which the gas and water valvefcasings are supported; 2 is the body portion of the water valve casing, which body portion is provided with the stuffing box 3, the inlet port or passage 4, andthe outlet passage 6 is the cap portion of the casing; 7 lis the piston of the water valve, which piston carries the piston rod 8, and is normally .held in its rearmost position by means of the spring 9; 10 is the casingof the gas valve. which casing is provided with the admission passage 11 and the outlet passage 12 leading to the burners of the water heater (not shown); 13 is the gas valve,".vhic h valve carries the stem 141, and is held normally speeiaeanon of teamsl raient.

tliekclosed ppsitionby means of the spring 15, and 16 isla manually operable cut-offl Patented May 11, 1915. application sied June 25, ieia. serial No. marsa indicated at 19, for purposes set forth later.

The post 18 carries at4 rear end a stud 2() bearing at its rear end a nut 21 so thatthe iorwar'dvposition .of the post 18 may be readily adjusted by moving .the nut back and forth. The nut is mounted'in a recess 22 in the cap 6, and this recess is closed by means of the cap 23. The post 18 is,- yieldingly held in its'forward position, by means of the spring 2LP, and the iit between the rear end of the post-18 and the cap G is such that the post vis free to move laterally to a certain extent, aswell as endwise. A

By inspection of Fig. 1 it will be seen that the passage through the piston which is closed at its rear end by the post 18 extends clear through the piston, and that the front end of such passage is closed by meansy of a spring disk 24- carrying atits rear side a The disk and washer are clanipe l y 8 by means of the nut 26. The disk 24 is preferably made of copper having a consid- `erable degree of springiness,`a nd in order to further increase the resiliency of the disk it is slotted from the edge inward as indicated in Fig. 8. |lTliis spring diskrZf .with its washer 25 constitutes in edect a second 'valve permitting a ready flow of liquid from the rear side of the piston to the front side thereof, but preventing any reversef flow. The piston rod 8 is secured to the piston 7 by means of the spider 27 .shown in plan view in Fig. 5, such spider being screwthrcadcd at'its outer edge into the piston 7 as indicated in Fig. 1, and having at its center the hollow portion 28 into which the end of the piston rod 8 is screwthreaded, the disk 24 `and washer 25 being 'clamped between such collar 28 and the nut 26. Mounted in the passageway thioiighthe piston and between the spider 27 and the front endof the post is oi: course reduced, and the pressure froml the inlet passage #t causes the piston to move downwardly so that its stem or piston rod 8 engages the stem 1% of the gas valve 13, and such gas valve is opened permitting a flow of gas to the burners of the heater. The forward. movement of the piston 7 causes the collar 17 to uncover the beveled portions 19 on the post 18, thus permitting a flow of water into the passage' in front 01"' the post, and the pressure at this point moves the spring disk 21 with its washer 25 outward, so that a iow ot water occurs from the inlet -opening et to the outlet opening 5, and thence through the heater to the hot vater i'ancet. This liow continues as lon'g as the hot water taucet is open. During this operation the piston 7 assumes a position dependent upon the amount ol hot water flowing from the heater, as the greater the .liow ot 4water the 'farther forward the piston must move in order to provide the required area of passage between the beveled portions 1S) ol the post and the interior surface ot the collar 17. lt Afollows that the gas valve 13 thus opened a distance proportional to .the amount ofwater Howing from the heater, as the gas valve, by reason oli' the` contacting stems S and 14 is opened in accordance with the forward movement of the piston 7.

1f the piston ot the water valve should become stuck in forward position after the outlet from the water valve had been closed, the 'disk 2l serves to secure the movement ot the piston to its proper position, as the pressure in the heater, due to the rise in temperature ol the water, will increase, and a very considerable pressure will be applied to the 'lront side ot' the piston, tending` to carry it to its normal rear position. The disl' 21 with its washer 25 thus acts as a check valve, permittingthe ready flow of liquid from the rear side of the piston to the front side. but preventing a flow in the reverse direction, so that the water in the heater may act as a thermostat to automatically close the water valve in case the pressure in the heater Prises above a predetermined point. This thermostatic action will not only occur when the water piston becomes stuck in open position, but also in case the amount of gas in passing through the gas valve casing in the normal operation of' the heater is too grea't to heat the water passing through the heater to the desired temperature, in which case the unduly heated water inthe boiler will expand, causing` both the piston 7 and the gas valve 13 to move either to fully or partially closed position.

'lhe spring mounting of the throttling.

post 1S is iulvantagemis in that in rase ot' the lodgment of a particle oiE Jforeign ma terial between the post and the collar 17 the piston -l can still be moved to its rear s l inceste position by the thermostatic action as heretofore described, the spring 24 permittingl the post 18 to move rearwardly with the' vopen as by the lodgment of a foreign particle between the gas valve and its seat. Under these conditions gas would be supplied to the burners of the heater after the outlet from the heater is closed, and as a result the heater would become overheated and ekipiode or beotherwise injured, as the check alve 21 prevents the pressure in the heater from being reduced by the communication which would otherwise be had with the main. Under the conditions as above set forth, .and with anundue accumulation ot' pressure in the heater, such pressure would cause the piston 7 to move upward, and this upward movement ot' the piston bringing the member'29 in Contact with the post 18 would cause such member 29 to force the check valve 24 open, thus providing a communication between the main and the heater, and preventing any danger of an explosion due to pressure accumulated in the heater.

The construction illustrated in F ig. 6 is substantially the saine as that illustrated in Fig. 1, with the exception ot the safety device taking the place of the member 29 in the construction of Fig. 1. The parts 1, 2', 3, e', 5, 6, 7, S, 9", 10, 18, and 23 are all precisely the same in structure as the parts 1, 2, 3, A1-, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, and 23 in the structureof F ig. 1, and further description of such parts and their operation is therefore unnecessary. llhe means for operating the disk 24 comprises the pair of studs 3() screwed into the front end of the casing 2 and provided at their rear ends with/the adjustable nuts 31. These studs 30 fit into recesses 32 in the edge of the disk 2&1 and washer 25, and the nuts 51 overhang the edge of the disk and washer. These nuts 31 constitute a means for pulling the washer 25 away from its seatwhen the piston 7 is moved to a point to the rear of its ,normal position of rest as indicated in Fig, .6. It will be seen that in case the gas valve 6 is open and the water in the heater becomes over-heated or steam is formed, the expansion of the water-will force the piston 7 to the rear until the nuts 31 open the check valve consisting of the parts 2st and 25', and the pressure in the heater will then beeieeeae -eoine eqnalized by reason of the :treefernn-- 'elve for' controlling the supply of beater, oi.' e Water valve compris- V e casing having inlet and outlet ports',

e piston Working between the ports and outting.;r on? communication therebetween when in both extremes o1 movement and provided with a passage extending from one side ,of the piston to the other, a check valve preventing any beek flow of Water from the outlet to the inlet side oft the piston and normeily Yheld yieldingly in closed position, and :means operated by the piston for moving the gas valve.

2. .in a water heater the combination with a gas valve :for controlling the lsupply of eas to tbe beater, of a vate valve compriseasing leaving inlet end outlet ports, Working between4 the ports and cut- 3 eonin'unication therebetween 'when in bote e tre-,nies of movement, a passage extendine: :troni one side of the piston to the other, a @heck valve preventing any back ioiv of Water from the outlet to the inlet side et tbe piston, and ineens operated by tbe piston and normally lielo yieldingly in closed position for moving the ges valve.

3. ln a vveter heater the combination with` gas valve for controlling the supply of to the beater, of a water valve comprising a easing having inlet and outlet ports, :i piston Woi'ling betweenL the ports andeutting on communication therebetween when in both extremes of movement and provided ivi'tli e. passage extending from one side of* tbe piston to tbe other, a yielding spring?,r disk normally closing the passage and preventing any back fiovv of water from the outlet to tbe inlet 'side of the piston, and ineens operated by the piston for moving the gas valve,

vn Water heater tbe combination with s valve for Controlling tbe supply of to tl'ie beater, of a Water valve compriscasing31 having inletend outlet ports, on working between tbe ports and prowith passaw eI/Jenflinv :from lone r 1 1 b or toe ,i ton to tne other, a yielding disk provided on its `under side with :i cking and normally closingn tbe passage *hereby back non' et Water )from the outto the inletI side ol1 the piston'is preoperated by tbe piston valve.

eater tbe combine tion 7itli s i .Jlling the supply et Having thus described my invention and.

.. i e. @veter beater the combination with to tbe beater, of' a Water valve comprislng e easing having inlet and outlet ports, aA piston 'Working between they ports and provided with e passage extending from one side of the piston to the other, a check valve for preventin a back dov( of Water from the outlet to the inlet side of the piston, means operated by the piston for moving the gas valve, and means for opening the check valve when the piston is moved to a position to the rear of its normal position of rest.-

6. in a Water heater the combination with a gas valve for controlling the supply of gas to the heater, of a, water valve comprising a casing having inlet and outlet ports, apiston Working between the ports and provided With a passage extending from one side of the piston to the other, e check valve for preventing e back ow of Water from the outlet to the inlet side'of the piston,

means operated by the piston for moving the Y. ln a Water beater thepombination Witba gas valve for controlling the supply'of gas to the beater, of a Water valve comprising a easing having inlet and outlet ports and a throttling'p'ost projecting inwardly/from the rear end of the Casing and carried .thereby a .piston Working between the ports and provided with e passage engaged by the said post so es to,` be partially and Jvariably closed thereby depending upon the longitudinal position of the piston, a check valve covering the forward end of the passage and normally preventing a flow of Water from the outlet Ato the inlet side of the piston, means operated by the post for opening the cheek lvalve whenY the piston is moved to the 'rear of its normal position of rest, and

means operatediby/ tbepiston for moving thegas valve'f" i i n 8. In a Water heater the combination with e gas valve for controlling the supply of gasto the heater, of a Water valve comprising a easing having inlet and outlet poi-ts and a throttling postvprojecting inwardly from the rear end of the casing end yieldinglylield in orwerd position, e piston working ,between tbe ports and provided with a passage engaged bythe said post so as to be partially and variably closed depending upon tbe longitudinal position of the piston, andmeans operated by the piston for moving the gas valve.,

9. ln a, Water heater the combination with vmounted between the laterally, a piston Werkingbetween the ports and provided with a passage engaged by the said post so as to be partially and variably elosedthereby depending upon the longitudinal post ion of the piston, and means operated by the piston for moving the gas valve. v

10. In a water heater the combination with 'a` gas valve for controlling the supply f gas to the heater, of a waiter Yalve comd prising a easing having inlet and outlet ports, a movable pressure operated abutment ports for reciprocation, and in both extremes of movement eutting on communication between said ports, a passage extending from one side of the abutment to the other, t Cheek valve for preventing ay bank flow of water from the 0ut- `let to the inlet side of the abutment and normally maintained yieldingly in closed position, and means operated by the abutment for moving the gas valve.

11. In a Water heater the combination with a gas valve for controlling the supply of gas to the heater, of a water valve com prisinga easing having inlet and outlet ports, a movable pressure operated abutment mounted between the ports for reciproca'- -tion and provided with a passage extendA ing from one side of the abutment to the other, a check valve preventing ay boek flow of water from the outlet to the inlet side of the abutment; means operated by the piston on its orwzfrd movement for moving the gas Valve toopen position, and means for opening the check valve when the abutment is' moved to a position to the rear of its normal position of rest.

12. In4 a' water beater the combination with a 'gas vulve for controlling the supply of gas to the heater, of a Water valve Comprising a easing having inlet and outlet ports and a throttling post projecting inwardly from the rear end of the @using sind yieldingly heldin forward position, an ubut ment Working,- between the ports and pro vided with a passage engaged by said post so as to be partially and variably closed, depending upon the longitudinal position.

of the abutment, 'and means' operated by the abutment for moving the gas vulve.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed. witnesses.

REYNOLDS C. FRAMPHON. Witnesses 2,

LETITIA A. lynns, ARoHWeRTH MARTIN. 

